Shane Claiborne may look like he was the smelly kid in class, but don’t let that fool you–he probably was the smelly kid in class. And for good reason, too. It’s highly unlikely Jesus sported anything like Brute aftershave lotion or Axe’s “Dark Temptations” shower gel (the latter, I imagine, being a more appropriate fit for his arch-enemy). Plus, all that dumpster-diving, while certainly a more ecologically friendly way to procure food than our current practices, has been known to produce quite the mephitic odor. I’m guessing Shane thinks it’s a good thing to get smelly for Jesus.
Shane is the author of several books including: The Irresistible Revolution, Jesus for President, and Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. If you’re ready to get your DIY ethic on and want to know how to “dread them locks,” then read “Five Questions with Shane Claiborne.”
1) If you could pick any person throughout all of human history to dumpster dive with who would it be?
Francis of Assisi probably knows a lot of good spots. I’d like to bring him to Philly to hit up the Odwalla dumpster. Good nutritious juices. Mmmmm.
2) What do you think is the single greatest heresy infecting North American Christianity?
Wow. We have a few to choose from, hard to pick. Either the prosperity gospel, the fluffy gospel, the gospel of American exceptionalism (‘God Bless America” Christianity), or the God hates _________ gospel.
3) Who would you rather spend a day with at a park: Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich or Stephen of Colbert?
I already chose Francis to go dumpstering with, and if I hung out with Julian I might need to take my fiancée or a chaperone along . . . hmmm . . . I’ll go with Stephen. I’d like to take him wake-boarding in Tennessee with my folks.
4) What advice do you have for someone who went ridiculously in debt for an overpriced theological education and now feels functionally useless because he has to prostitute himself out to the most pervasive principalities and powers on the planet (universities) in order to pay off the loans for the very theological education that he thought was necessary in order to be of use to someone? (I’m speaking hypothetically, of course.)
Live in community. Rather than asking, “How do I accumulate more?” ask, “How do I live off less?” By living with a bunch of folks and sharing a car, washer, house, etc., there will be an abundance. Just as many hands make for light work, many wallets make for cheap rent (speaking from experience on this one).
5) Would you mind sharing your secret for such nicely dreaded hair?
My mom holds the secret (she is responsible for my locks–she put them in 7 years ago). I like the pure beeswax over the petroleum-based wax, it’s also much less flammable (who wants petroleum in their hair, anyway?).